Cannonborough Elliotborough in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Calvary Episcopal Church

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 18, 2011

1. Calvary Episcopal Church Marker

Dedicated in the fall of 2011

Inscription. This church, located on Beaufain Street for 91 years, was organized in 1847 to give free blacks and slaves in antebellum Charleston a separate Episcopal congregation of their own. The Rev. Paul Trapier was its first minister, and the church met in the St. Philip's Episcopal Church parsonage, then in Temperance Hall, before acquiring a lot at the corner of Beaufain and Wilson Streets.
(Reverse text)
A stuccoed brick church on Beaufain Street was completed and consecrated in 1849. In 1940 Charleston Housing Authority bought the historic church and lot to build the Robert Mills Manor housing project. The congregation bought this lot on Line Street from the city and dedicated this sanctuary in 1942. Three African-American cemeteries have been on this site: one “Colored,” one Baptist, and Calvary Episcopal.

Erected 2010 by The Congregation. (Marker Number 10-66.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.

Location. 32° 47.639′ N, 79° 56.744′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is in Cannonborough Elliotborough. Marker is on Line Street near Percy

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Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 106 Line Street, Charleston SC 29403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jonathan Jasper Wright (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Calvary Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Cannon Street Y (approx. ¼ mile away); United Order of Tents Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harmon Field / Cannon Street All-Stars (approx. 0.4 miles away); Septima P. Clark Expressway (approx. half a mile away); Hampton Park Terrace (approx. half a mile away); Burke High School (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.

Regarding Calvary Episcopal Church. Calvary Church was founded in 1847 to establish a special church for slaves in the Charleston community. Father Paul Trapier held services in March 1848 for the congregation in the basement of St. Philip's parsonage and in mid-July services were moved to temperance Hall on Meeting Street. By early 1849 approximately 30-40 "persons of color" attended in the morning, 100 in the afternoon and 276 in the Sunday school. As laws prohibited teaching a slave to read, all instructions in the church and Sunday school were oral. The original church was a brick structure covered with stucco

Calvary Episcopal Church Marker, reverse side image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 18, 2011

2. Calvary Episcopal Church Marker, reverse side

and painted white with a combination of straight and curved lines. The building was completed and consecrated on December 23, 1849 by the Right Reverend Christopher E. Gadsden. A two-story annex was built at the south of the church in 1924 and housed the kindergarten. Services ended at the old building on November 25, 1940, and the church was deconsecrated. The property was sold and monies from the sale were used to build the present building at Line and Percy Streets. Cavalry Episcopal was recognized as a mission in the Convention of the Diocese of SC on May 5, 1965. Father Stephen Macky, the vicar became the first rector. Calvary Episcopal Church celebrated its 155th anniversary on September 29, 2002.
( Moja Arts Festival City of Charleston October 2, 2003)

Calvary Episcopal Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 18, 2011

3. Calvary Episcopal Church

Calvary Episcopal Church and Marker, looking west along line Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 18, 2011

4. Calvary Episcopal Church and Marker, looking west along line Street

Calvary Episcopal Church Marker, looking east along Line Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 18, 2011

5. Calvary Episcopal Church Marker, looking east along Line Street

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 598 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 20, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.